Hartur d'Arc

The trouble is, Hartur d'Arc has not won at all in its last 6 races, and it is now 25 months since that last victory, which came at Naas in March 2024. Before that, the first win of its career arrived at Cork back in April 2022. So this is a horse with long gaps between its best moments — one that needs things to fall right, and specifically needs the weather to cooperate. It returned to racing 35 days ago after a short break, and its recent form figures — 8th, pulled up, 12th, pulled up, 21st, 2nd — tell a complicated story. Those two pull-ups suggest races where things simply did not work out, while that second place is a reminder that the talent is still there somewhere.

John C McConnell's yard has been in fine form this season, sending out 44 winners, so the infrastructure is clearly working. Most often in the saddle is Darragh O'Keeffe, who has partnered Hartur d'Arc 7 times and won once together — a win rate of 14%, or 1 in 7. That is consistent with the horse's overall record, suggesting no dramatic improvement or decline when this particular partnership is in play. For anyone following Hartur d'Arc, the simple rule is this: watch the weather forecast. On normal or dry ground, this is a journeyman horse at the tail end of a modest career. On a wet, muddy day, it is worth a second look.